Justice Stevens Agrees with bin Laden Killing

Posted by Olivia on May 13, 2011 in In The News - Comments Off on Justice Stevens Agrees with bin Laden Killing

Osama bin Laden was killed last week after Navy SEALs led an assault on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Bin Laden was #1 on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, and as the head of al-Qaeda, he was the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Some people, including bin Laden’s sons, have raised an issue as to whether or not the raid violated international law. Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has weighed in on the debate, stating of the raid, “I have not the slightest doubt that it was entirely appropriate for U.S. forces to do so.” He went on to explain that Armed Forces are permitted to kill an enemy commander who is engaged in hostile activities towards the United States. Interestingly, Justice Stevens wrote two important verdicts regarding terrorist prisoners at Guantanamo in 2004 and 2006. In both, he ruled in favor of the prisoners, first allowing prisoners to challenge their detention in court, and second, insisting that the U.S. abide by the protections of the Geneva Convention. Justice Stevens served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. “I must say I am proud of the SEALSs,” Stevens said.